UPDATED | The political ally of Gov. Chris Christie who ordered controversial lane closures on the George Washington Bridge earlier this year has resigned from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a person familiar with the matter said.

David Wildstein, who was the authority’s director of interstate capital projects and a veteran political operative, ordered that two of three local lanes from Fort Lee, N.J., be closed without alerting local officials in the town, or other executives at the sprawling bi-state agency, which is jointly controlled by Mr. Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Wildstein’s resignation was confirmed by a Port Authority employee.

The incident triggered a political battle and escalating tensions within the authority itself because of the dueling explanations for the closure. A Christie appointee and the authority’s original statement said that the lanes had been diverted to allow for a study of traffic patterns.

But politicians and other people familiar with the matter said they believed the purpose of the closure was political. Mr. Wildstein’s maneuver caused massive traffic tie-ups in Fort Lee, and appeared to be aimed as retaliation against the borough’s Democratic mayor, who had declined to endorse Mr. Christie’s reelection two weeks before the lanes were shut off, these people said.

Those who suspected a political motive included the mayor himself, Mark Sokolich, who wrote in a private letter that the move appeared to be “punitive,” but later recanted that suggestion.

A person familiar with the matter said Mr. Wildstein resigned in advance of a hearing scheduled for Monday, at which the authority’s executive director, Patrick Foye, is scheduled to testify under oath about the lane closures.

Mr. Foye, an appointee of Mr. Cuomo, was incensed when he learned of the lane closures in September and ordered them reversed, saying that they could have violated state and federal law in an email message to fellow executives at the authority. Earlier this week, Mr. Foye declined to discuss what he would say in questioning before the New Jersey Assembly, but said he stood by his email message.

“Mr. Wildstein has been a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s interests at the Port Authority,” said Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Mr. Christie. “We are grateful for his commitment and dedication to the important work of the Port Authority and thank him for his service to the people of New Jersey and the region.”